REPORT: ROCHDALE V YEOVIL TOWN

28 March 2015

On a wet afternoon Town fell to a 2-1 defeat to play off chasing Rochdale thanks to two quick goals in a crazy five minute second half period.

Town manager Terry Skiverton was forced into making changes to his team with Josh Sheehan and Liam Shephard away on international duty. Stephen Kingsley returned from his stint away with the Scotland Under 21’s to start on the left wing. Seth Twumasi returned to right-back with Ajay Leitch-Smith starting on the right wing.

Former Glover Michael Rose was the first player to have a shot at goal when stung the palms of Scott Loach with a curling 25-yard free kick.

On 20 minutes the Glovers had the perfect chance to open the scoring when referee Ilderton pointed to the spot after Rochdale keeper upended James Hayter in the area.

Hayter dusted himself down to step up to take the resulting penalty but saw his effort saved by Jones diving to his left.

From the resulting corner Jones had to be on his toes to superbly deny a certain goal when Hayter fired at goal from close range.

With the rain easing up at half time, it gave the very wet pitch time to drain and have some much needed forking by the ground staff.

The home side opened the scoring with just five minutes of the second period played. A free kick on the Dale left was swung in by Rose towards the back post. With Town failing to clear their lines leaving Bennett with the easiest of tasks in slotting home from close range.

Just moments later the home side doubled their lead when again Town failed to clear away any danger inside their own six-yard box. The ball somehow fell to Dale loanee O’Connell, who couldn’t miss from close range.

Town pulled a goal back on 56 minutes when a superb touch inside the area saw Hayter turn to calmly slot the ball home past Jones.

The home side should have scored with ten minutes to go, but somehow striker Henderson put his effort over the bar from two yards out.